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Hi there. I have another question for ya'll. I read somewhere (I don't remember where) that you can actually plant a 'tiels seeds, and the sprouts make good fresh greens for them. I have planted some and they are beginning to sprout, but I wanted to be sure... is it safe to feed these to him?

I wish I knew if that was true and how to do it because I would love to do that for my Rosie too..

Sandy, I think maybe the multiple meanings of the word "sprouting" have confused you. The seed in a seed mix are, by definition, varied, so what grows ("sprouts") depends on what each seed came from. You might be able to grow millet, for instance, which, when mature, might (depending on your climate and that type millet's needs) yield more millet seed in a few months. Some of the seed in the mix might yield edible greens. But what a circuitous way to get greens!

What I do instead is plant the greens I want for my birds, ones I know like my climate, and at a time of year that's good for growing them. This season I've grown collards, Swiss chard, arugula, dandelions, broccoli, kale, and spinach. Since your climate is the same as mine, unless you have quite an impressive light set-up for indoor gardening, your chances of getting seed to grow anything edible over the winter are slim to none IMHO.

If you use covered jars to "sprout" selected seed, you can feed them to your bird as sprouted seed in 24-72 hrs. http://www.landofvos.com/articles/wbsprouts.html Sprouting decreases the fat in the seed significantly, making sprouted seed far more nutritious for your bird than dry seed. I recommend you try that.

I have 28 seed eating parrots. All of which eat small parrot mix. Even the Eckys and Galah. I found that they were picking through the seed and leaving some varieties. It got to the point that I seemed to be throwing way too much away. I am frugal by nature and it was really bugging me. So I started a "recycled seed" bin. Each time I feed I have a bucket that I toss the uneaten seed and empty husks into. Not the seed that gets dropped on the cage floor (hygiene reasons). Just what's still in the dishes...... When needed I go through my bucket and get rid of the husks and then put the uneaten seed into small trays. I then follow the basic guidelines for sprouting seeds. I have 6 trays going at any given time. And at various stages of sprouting. When ready I put the entire tray into the aviary and the birds have a field day with the sprouts. They love it, and it makes me feel better about the amount of wastage.

I also plant more greens and veggies outside in the Spring for my birds as does BB.